No.320934, Private, Benjamin MUNNS
Aged 31
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Benjamin Munns was born on 28th March 1889 in Soham, (Newmarket Q2-1889 3B:559), baptised in Soham on 17th April 1899, son of William Thomas and Caroline
MUNNS (née WOODBRIDGE) of East Fen Common
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at East Fen Common, Soham with his father William MUNNS [27] farm labourer; his mother Caroline [24]; brother William [[6] and sister Elizabeth [4] and his uncle Luke WOODBRIDGE [23] a single farm labourer. All were born in Soham. 1901 census... Aged 12, he was at East Fen Common, Soham with his parents, sister Elizabeth and brothers William (farm labourer), George [8] and Arthur [6], both born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 22, he was at East Fen Common with his parents and brothers George and Arthur. All the men were farm labourers. His younger brother George was killed in France in April 1918 see here |
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Enlisted in Bury St Edmunds on 23rd January 1915, giving his age as 25 years 8 months, a farm labourer born and living in Soham at East Fen Common. No.18017,
Suffolk Regiment. He was 5 feet 3.25 inches tall, chest 36" to 38", Wesleyan, next of kin, his father William Munns of East Fen Common, Soham.
Subsequently re numbered to No.320934. Posted to 3rd Battalion at Felixstowe 25th January 1915, then the 7th Battalion and posted to France on 11th August 1915.
He was wounded but remained on duty on 22nd July 1916. Wounded again (gun shot wound left thigh) on 12th October 1916 he was returned to UK and to depot on 18th October 1916, then transferred to the 3rd Battalion on 8th December 1916. He apparently over celebrated the New Year as he was awarded 10 days detention for being drunk on duty on 1st January 1917. He the embarked with the 1st/5th Battalion at Southampton for the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Arriving Alexandria 2nd March 1917 he then joined the 15th Suffolk Yeomanry Battalion at Sidi Bishr on 19th March 1917. On 1st May 1915 they then embarked at Alexandria, disembarking at Marseilles on 7th May. Admitted to 230 Field Ambulance on 8th July 1918 with Bronchial Catarrh, he proceeded to 14 General Hospital at Wimeruex on 11th and per AT "St Andrew" to Dover on 18th July 1918. He is recorded as being at Royal Victoria Hospital Netley on 17th August, diagnosed as Tubercule of Lungs, attributed to exposure on active service. Discharged as no longer physically fit for war service, with 100% disability and recommended for sanitorium treatment, on 20th September 1918 at Warley. Awarded silver war badge. His forms are annotated "Dead" but the appropriate connection was obviously not made with CWGC originally, but he has now been recognised on the National Book of Remembrance and there is now a CWGC headstone on his grave. Died in 1920 (Newmarket Q1-1920 3B:595), buried in Soham on 17th January 1920.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
